Dont Kill the Cougar

[RealDealNeverstop]

Cougar has become a pop culture label as a designation for independent and autonomous womyn who date younger men. A brief description of the 4 legged mammal is: "A capable stalk-and-ambush predator, the cougar pursues a wide variety of prey."


Clearly, the usage towards womyn is not complimentary but even in this converse of the term "harlot" we cannot deny progress of equality for two obvious reasons. The first is womyn have carved out a piece of the socio-economic puzzle for themselves. Without access to financial independence, dependence is the only available option. Secondly, unlike "harlot," Cougars are vocally proud to be...Cougars. Womyn have progressed to the point that even a term motivated with malice gets brushed off like a dust bunny under a space shuttle launch. So while there is not much of an ostensible cultural drive for liberation, womyns' new classes in our culture cannot be denied and the Cougar is a sign for the synthesis of the dichotomy womyn have been facing for generations: fighting sexual objectification while not sacrificing sexuality. So don't kill the Cougar, just enjoy the show.

 

[acropolis]

sexually available women of all ages are truly a gift to be treasured and should certainly not be killed.

 

[OphidiaPhile]

sexually available women of all ages are truly a gift to be treasured and should certainly not be killed.

+27

 

[Caitlin.ann]

Cougars are great.

 

[stan1980]

I've never heard the term 'Cougar' before, but I must admit they are great, and were the main reason for me and my friends to go down our local 'Chicago's Rock Cafe' some 10 or more years ago. Great times!

 

[gwenmead]

Hey, everybody needs a hobby. And I was never that good at crochet...

 

[cantata]

I've never heard women described as "cougars" before. Must be an across-the-pond thing.

Not sure I like it, but I guess it's no worse than "stud" for men.

 

[Shemjaza]

sexually available women of all ages are truly a gift to be treasured and should certainly not be killed.

Agreed.

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

I've never heard women described as "cougars" before. Must be an across-the-pond thing.

Not sure I like it, but I guess it's no worse than "stud" for men.

Stud is purely complimentary revolving around the idea of an alpha male but cougar is derogatory because it paints womyn as predators.

 

[stan1980]

Stud is purely complimentary revolving around the idea of an alpha male but cougar is derogatory because it paints womyn as predators.

Personally, I'd avoid such terms these days, but I'm also a believer terms only become derogatory if you give them the power to be derogatory by getting offended by them. Obviously, this is difficult to avoid sometimes as some words are purposely meant to be insulting, but if the idea that it is okay or positive for a woman to sleep with who she wishes becomes common place, then I can see a 'new' word like this (new to me anyway!) being embraced.

 

[cantata]

Stud is purely complimentary revolving around the idea of an alpha male but cougar is derogatory because it paints womyn as predators.

Did others use it of women before they used it to describe themselves?

Might it be possible for women to "claim" the word (like "queer" and the N word have been claimed by their respective groups)?

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

Personally, I'd avoid such terms these days, but I'm also a believer terms only become derogatory if you give them the power to be derogatory by getting offended by them. Obviously, this is difficult to avoid sometimes as some words are purposely meant to be insulting, but if the idea that it is okay or positive for a woman to sleep with who she wishes becomes common place, then I can see a 'new' word like this (new to me anyway!) being embraced.

But that's the point...Cougar is designed to paint autonomous womyn as villains.

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

Did others use it of women before they used it to describe themselves?

Might it be possible for women to "claim" the word (like "queer" and the N word have been claimed by their respective groups)?

Yes, others used it but womyn claimed it for themselves as stated in the op.

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

Here's a view opposed to the op
http://open.salon.com/content.php?cid=12893

 

[stan1980]

But that's the point...Cougar is designed to paint autonomous womyn as villains.

Yes, it's best to avoid labelling other people at all costs, if people wish to self label themselves, then, whatever...

 

[jcook922]

Cougar has become a pop culture label as a designation for independent and autonomous womyn who date younger men. A brief description of the 4 legged mammal is: "A capable stalk-and-ambush predator, the cougar pursues a wide variety of prey."


Clearly, the usage towards womyn is not complimentary but even in this converse of the term "harlot" we cannot deny progress of equality for two obvious reasons. The first is womyn have carved out a piece of the socio-economic puzzle for themselves. Without access to financial independence, dependence is the only available option. Secondly, unlike "harlot," Cougars are vocally proud to be...Cougars. Womyn have progressed to the point that even a term motivated with malice gets brushed off like a dust bunny under a space shuttle launch. So while there is not much of an ostensible cultural drive for liberation, womyns' new classes in our culture cannot be denied and the Cougar is a sign for the synthesis of the dichotomy womyn have been facing for generations: fighting sexual objectification while not sacrificing sexuality. So don't kill the Cougar, just enjoy the show.

I met a Cougar last night, she gave me a lapdance and took everything I had out of my wallet. It just mysteriously disappeared.. Good thing I carry very little cash. Well, not old enough to be a Cougar, more of a succubus.

So I went home last night slightly drunk, with some good memories of screwing around with friends I haven't seen in a long time, and a really fond appreciation for my fiance who doesn't take my money as covertly as "Sarah". Although I really wish she would learn how to give lapdances. Really.

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

Yes, it's best to avoid labelling other people at all costs, if people wish to self label themselves, then, whatever...

Labels are unavoidable in large societies so once we recognize their sources, specific purposes, and contextual usage we can then breakdown down them down into etymological adumbrations. What struck me the most is how Cougars circumvented the process of degridation by immediately claiming ownership of the term.

 

[jcook922]

Labels are unavoidable in large societies so once we recognize their sources, specific purposes, and contextual usage we can then breakdown down them down into etymological adumbrations. What struck me the most is how Cougars circumvented the process of degridation by immediately claiming ownership of the term.

So you're saying there aren't women who DO fit the typecast of a predator? A normal independant woman I find nothing wrong with, but just like with men, there's some wicked women out there who don't exactly have our best interests in mind. Nicknames like that will always exist, men have them, women have them, people of every religion and affiliation have them, I really don't see a reason to be so up in arms about the word Cougar. To be completely honest before this thread I'd never heard the term used out in the real world.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

I haven't see this term in use myself for all that long. Probably cuz I've been out of circulation!

But I don't see it as derogatory as long as the women themselves don't.

Come to think of it, I remember one or two Cougars crossing my path!
One instance was...scary. The other scary as well, but was complimentary!

Can a man be a Cougar?
If so...I've run into a couple of those!


All right kidees...story time!
My friend and I went to the Back Room in Austin, TX one night. Heavy metal bar basically. I think we were about 18 or 19. We were both...um, not sober. lol As soon as we got there, I had a lady all over me "like a cheap suit" as my uncle would say. My trusted wingman ditched me and made a beeline for the other side of the bar where he could watch me but made no move to help!
I've seldom seen him laugh harder.

 

[RealDealNeverstop]

So you're saying there aren't women who DO fit the typecast of a predator?

The term is referring specifically to older womyn that target much younger men, so yes, there are older womyn who target younger men.

A normal independant woman I find nothing wrong with, but just like with men, there's some wicked women out there who don't exactly have our best interests in mind. Nicknames like that will always exist, men have them, women have them, people of every religion and affiliation have them, I really don't see a reason to be so up in arms about the word Cougar. To be completely honest before this thread I'd never heard the term used out in the real world.

The op is defending the use of the word, not criticizing it.